Handle-release mechanism for vacuum cleaners



July 31,1934.

Filed June lsf 1951 4 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Healy L. Zaba'sla'e Wma:

Patented .July. 31, 1934 HANDLE-RELEASE MEcnAmsM ron VACUUM cLEANEnsHenry L. Zabriskie, Westleld, N. I., assigner to The SingerManufacturing Company, Elizabeth, N. I., a corporation of New JerseyApplication June 13, 1931, Serial No. 544.093

1 claim.

This invention relates to vacuum cleaners of the domestic type having anelectric suctionfan including a casing formed with an air-inlet nozzle.and to which is pivotally connected a handle by which the device ispropelled over the oor. The invention has for an object to provide ahandle-supporting latch whichv may be vconveniently manipulated by theoperator and which 0 is simple in construction and easy to assemble.

A further object of the invention is to provide a vacuum cleanerhandle-supporting latchmechanism of such a nature that it does not inany way interfere with or impede the assembly or disassembly of theupper tubular portion of the handle with or from the lower`forkedportion' of the handle. Y,

Still further, the invention has for an object to provide for theconvenient manipulation of the latch without externally encumbering thehandle with devices additional to the customary equipment,

With the above and otherobjects in view, as

- will hereinafter appear, the invention comprises the devices,combinations and arrangements of parts hereinafter described andclaimed.

'Ihe features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby willbe readily understood by those skilled in the art from the following 30detailed description of a preferred embodiment of the inventionVillustrated in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a sideelevation of a vacuum cleaner embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the vacuum cleaner with the dust-bagremoved. Fig. 3 is a vertical section through the handle of the vacuumcleaner v on the line 3 3, Fig. 2. Fig, 4 is a section on the line 4-4.Fig. 3, and Fig. 5 is a section an the line 5-5, Fig. 4, showing thehandle latch from the side opposite to that shown in Fig. 3.

1 represents the usual casing for the suctionfan 2 driven by theelectric motor 3. "Ifhe casing 1 is formed with'the air-inlet opening ornozzle 4 and outlet opening 5 to which is connected the dust-bag 6. Thecasing is supported at its rearward end by the 4wheels 'I which arejournaled on the shaft 8 connecting the tines 9, 9 of the forked lowerend-portion of the handle 5o by which the vacuum cleaner is propelledover the door. The shaft 8 passes freely through alined apertures in theears 10 which extend rearwardly from the casing 1 and constitutes apivotal connection between the handle and the fan-casing. The sleeve 11on the shaft 8 between the wheels 7, holds such wheels properly spacedapart.

The forked lower end of the handle is formed -with a split socket 12 inwhich is removably clamped thelower end ofthe tubular upper por- 38 tion13 of the handle. The lower end of the tubular handle member 13 isclosed by' a cylindrical plug 14. Mounted on the handle 13 are theoppositely extended supporting hooks 15 and 16 for the electricconductor cord 17 which enters 66 the hollow handle 13 through the cordinlet fitting 18. The lower hook 15 is rigidly-mounted on the handlemember 13. The upper hook 16 is pivoted at 19 to the bracket piece 20xed v to the handle member 13. The hook 16 is in :3Q the form of a leverand includes an arm 21 which extends into the tubular-handle member 13through a slot 22 in the side wall thereof. The upper end of the slot 22limits the outward motion of the hook 16 to the full line position v75shown in Fig.` 2.

Connected to the arm 21 of the upper cordsupporting hook 16 is the upperend of the pushrod 23 which extends downwardly within the hollow handlemember 13 and through an aperture 8@ in the plug 14. A coil-spring 24,surrounding the push-rod 23 and interposed between the plug 14 and acollar 25 fixed to the push-rod 23, acts asv a recovery spring torestore the push-rod to its uppermost position when the operatorreleases the hook-member '16 after having pressed the I latter inwardlyto dotted line position shown in Fig. 2.

One of the ears 10 of the casing 1 ls formed with a series ofhandle-supporting shoulders '26 90 with which cooperate a latch 27pivoted on the screw-pin 28 fixed in the lug 29 integral withone of thetines 9 of the forked lower end oi the handle A leaf-spring 30 fixed atone end to the lug 29 bears upon the latch 27 and tends to press 95 thelatter into engagement with the shouldered portion of the'adjacent ear10 of the casing 1. The latch 27 is connected by the bent wire link 31to one end of the lever 32 which is fulcrumed at 33 to the forkedportion of the handle. The 100 lever 32 is formed at' its opposite endwith an ear 34 the upper flat face of which is adapted tovbe engaged anddepressed by the lower end of the' push-rod 23.

t is evident that the latch 27, in cooperation presses inwardly upon theupper cord-hook 1811,10

2 y Y t which is conveniently within reach of the ope ators hand. Theinward motion of the cordhook 16 acts, through the interconnectingmechanism, to raise the latch 27 out of engagement with the adjacentshoulder 26 and permits the handle to be lowered to the desiredelevation. Y

As the connection between the lever 32 and the rod 23 is a push-contactconnection, it is unnecessary to pay especial attention to thelatchoperating mechanism in the act of assembling the upper portion 13of the handle in the socket 12 of the lower portion 9.

While I have described in speciiic. terms one illustrated embodiment ofthe invention, it will be obvious that the invention is not limited tothe v details of construction and relative arrangement of parts shownand described but is susceptible of embodiment in various specic forms.

Having thus set forth the nature of the invention, what I claim hereinisz- In a motor-driven device, an ambulant frame.

`:a handle including a lower forked portion pivotally connected to saidframe and. van upper` tubular portion detachably connected to said

